How to react if leaders misguide us?
How should we respond when authority figures, like Rebekah, lead us astray?

Setting the Scene

Genesis 27 paints an awkward family drama. Isaac plans to bless Esau; Rebekah plots for Jacob to seize that blessing.

Genesis 27:13 captures the hinge moment: “But his mother replied, ‘Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey my voice and go get them for me.’”

• A mother—an authority under God—pressures her son to deceive. Scripture faithfully records the messy reality, yet never excuses sin.


What Went Wrong in Genesis 27

• Broken trust: Rebekah stopped trusting God’s promise (Genesis 25:23) and reached for human schemes.

• Misused authority: Instead of guiding Jacob in righteousness, she led him into deceit.

• Passive compliance: Jacob feared the consequences of being caught (27:12) more than the sin itself, then capitulated.

• Far-reaching fallout: Family fractures, decades of exile for Jacob, and Esau’s bitter grudge (27:41).


Timeless Principles When Authority Misguides

1. God’s authority outranks all others

Acts 5:29—“We must obey God rather than men.”

Exodus 20:3—“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

When commands conflict, divine instruction prevails.

2. Honor remains, but sinful orders do not

Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:1 call for honoring parents “in the Lord.”

• Respectful refusal models Daniel 3; Daniel 6; Acts 4:19.

One can be courteous yet uncompromising.

3. Truthfulness is non-negotiable

Proverbs 12:22—“Lying lips are detestable to the LORD.”

Colossians 3:9—“Do not lie to one another.”

God never asks His people to advance His purposes through deceit.

4. Personal responsibility before God

Ezekiel 18:20—“The soul who sins shall die.”

• Rebekah tried to absorb the curse, but Jacob stood accountable for his own choice.

Blame-shifting never cancels guilt.

5. Trust God’s timing and methods

Psalm 37:5—“Commit your way to the LORD… He will act.”

• God had promised the blessing; impatience birthed manipulation.

Waiting is faith in action.


Walking These Principles Out

• Compare every directive to Scripture; if it contradicts, refuse it politely but firmly.

• Speak the truth with humility—explain why you cannot participate (Daniel 1:8).

• Seek wise, godly counsel when situations feel murky (Proverbs 15:22).

• Pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2), even when they err.

• Accept potential costs—Shadrach and friends faced the furnace, yet God stood with them.

• Keep a clear conscience (Acts 24:16); peace with God outweighs human approval.


Encouraging Reminders

• God remains sovereign; human failures cannot thwart His plans (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).

• Integrity today sows blessings tomorrow—contrast Jacob’s turmoil with Joseph’s steady righteousness.

• The Lord Jesus exemplified perfect obedience to the Father, even unto death (Philippians 2:8). Following Him empowers us to choose faithfulness when earthly voices demand compromise.

In what ways can Genesis 27:13 guide us in making ethical decisions today?
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